BIBLE STUDY
1. Read the following passages of Scripture, and explain what each has to say about the difficulty of defining God.
a. Psalm 145:3
b. Isaiah 55:9
c. Matthew 11:27
d. 1 Corinthians 1:21
2. According to Dr. Sproul, what is the significance of Genesis 2:19–20 in relation to man’s ability to define and classify?
3. How do the following passages demonstrate that God is in a class by Himself — sui generis?
a. Psalm 139:6
b. Romans 11:33
4. Scripture uses descriptions of God taken from creation, from human experience, and from human anatomy. Below are examples of each type of description. What is the overall significance of this scriptural phenomenon?
a. Descriptions from Creation — Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 27:1; 84:11; Isaiah 31:4; 53:7; Hebrews 12:29
b. Descriptions from Human Experience — Exodus 15:26; Psalm 23:1; Isaiah 33:22; 54:5; 61:10; Hebrews 11:10
c. Descriptions from Human Anatomy — Exodus 33:20; Numbers 11:23; Deuteronomy 8:3; Psalm 11:4; 55:1
5. In Acts 17:28, Paul preaches the following words: “in Him we live and move and have our being.” What are some passages of Scripture demonstrating that this text cannot be interpreted in a pantheistic sense?
6. How do the following texts indicate the distinction between the Creator and the creature?
a. Genesis 1
b. Psalm 50:10–12
c. Psalm 90:2
d. Isaiah 43:7
e. Acts 17:24–25
f. Revelation 4:11
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Why does the fact that God is in a class by Himself make definition of “God” so difficult?
2. What danger is involved with saying that there is no being apart from God’s being? Why is this a danger?
3. Is it possible for fallen human beings to conceive of absolute perfection? Explain.
4. What is helpful about the medieval definition of God as “the most perfect being”? What is not helpful about this definition?
APPLICATION
1. What does the word “perfect” conjure up in your imagination? Is your concept of “perfect” perfect?
2. How does a knowledge of God’s absolute perfection give you hope?
3. What would it mean in your life to be perfect as our Father is perfect (Matt. 5:48)?
1. Read the following passages of Scripture, and explain what each has to say about the difficulty of defining God.
a. Psalm 145:3
b. Isaiah 55:9
c. Matthew 11:27
d. 1 Corinthians 1:21
2. According to Dr. Sproul, what is the significance of Genesis 2:19–20 in relation to man’s ability to define and classify?
3. How do the following passages demonstrate that God is in a class by Himself — sui generis?
a. Psalm 139:6
b. Romans 11:33
4. Scripture uses descriptions of God taken from creation, from human experience, and from human anatomy. Below are examples of each type of description. What is the overall significance of this scriptural phenomenon?
a. Descriptions from Creation — Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 27:1; 84:11; Isaiah 31:4; 53:7; Hebrews 12:29
b. Descriptions from Human Experience — Exodus 15:26; Psalm 23:1; Isaiah 33:22; 54:5; 61:10; Hebrews 11:10
c. Descriptions from Human Anatomy — Exodus 33:20; Numbers 11:23; Deuteronomy 8:3; Psalm 11:4; 55:1
5. In Acts 17:28, Paul preaches the following words: “in Him we live and move and have our being.” What are some passages of Scripture demonstrating that this text cannot be interpreted in a pantheistic sense?
6. How do the following texts indicate the distinction between the Creator and the creature?
a. Genesis 1
b. Psalm 50:10–12
c. Psalm 90:2
d. Isaiah 43:7
e. Acts 17:24–25
f. Revelation 4:11
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Why does the fact that God is in a class by Himself make definition of “God” so difficult?
2. What danger is involved with saying that there is no being apart from God’s being? Why is this a danger?
3. Is it possible for fallen human beings to conceive of absolute perfection? Explain.
4. What is helpful about the medieval definition of God as “the most perfect being”? What is not helpful about this definition?
APPLICATION
1. What does the word “perfect” conjure up in your imagination? Is your concept of “perfect” perfect?
2. How does a knowledge of God’s absolute perfection give you hope?
3. What would it mean in your life to be perfect as our Father is perfect (Matt. 5:48)?